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(No Model.) v E. H. BABBITT & L. STOCKSTROM.

' PAPER FILE.

No; 419,999. Patented Jan. 21 1896.

N. YEIERS Phalwljmcgraplm, wimn m ma UNTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMOND H. BABBITT AND LOUIS STOOKSTROM, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO GEO. D. BARNARD & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

PAPER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 419,999, dated January 21, 1890. Application filed September 2, 1889. Serial lie-322,692. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDMOND H. BABBITT and LOUIS STOCKSTROM, both of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Paper-Files, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Our lll'VGllElOIl relates to certain improve ments in that class of paper-files having a movable back and astationary front with side pieces within which the back is located; and our invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a detail elevation showing a portion of a case with four files, one of which is placed in position for examination. Fig. II is an elevation showing one of the files in position for examining papers, the back being removed. Fig. III is a detail top View illustrating the manner of supporting the files while the papers are being examined. Fig. IV is a detail transverse section taken on line IV IV, Fig. I. Fig. V is a detail view of the inside of the front of one of the files. Fig. VI is a section taken on line VI VI, Fig. V. Fig. VII is a section of one ofthe filestaken on line VII VII, Fig. VIII. Fig. VIII is a transverse section taken on line VIII VIII, Fig. VII. Fig. IX is a perspective view of one of the files.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a suitable case having a number of pigeonholes 2 for receiving the files. The bottom of each pigeon-hole is preferably extended, as shown at 3, Fig. III, and each lip thus formed is perforated at 4 to receive vertical hooks 5 on the file, each file having preferably two vertical hooks, as shown clearly in Fig. IX, and each lip 3 having two perforations to receive the hooks. When the hooks are placed in the perforations, the lower part of the inner end of the file bears against the case 1, as shown at 6, Fig. II, and the file is thus supported in normal position while its contents are being examined. Each pigeon-hole may have a perforated lip for supporting its file; or of course any file could be supported on the lip of the pigeon-hole of another file, and

this would probablybe the case with the files of pigeon-holes located either too high up or too low down for the papers to be conveniently examined. This arrangement affords a very easy and convenient means for suspending the files during the examination of the papers or documents, and requires but little timepractically no timeto engage the files and lips and remove the files again.

Each file consists of a front plate 7, side plates 8, and a back 9. The front plate 7 is preferably provided with a handle 10, by which the file is removed and inserted into its pigeon-hole, and above the handle I prefer 6 5 to place a label-holder consisting of a frame or open plate 11,into which the label 12 would be inserted from above. This frame or plate is clearly shown in Figs. I and IV. Behind this plate the front 7 of the file is provided with a vertical rib 13, formed by a depression made on the inside of the front piece. The object of this depression is to force the cen-. tral portion of the label outward and cause its ends and bottom to bind in the frame 11 and prevent its accidental removal from the file. This depression and rib are plainly shown in Figs. V and VI.

The back 9 of the file is provided with an arm 14, having a head 15, which fits beneath flanges 16, secured to the bottom of the file, as shown in Figs. VII, VIII, and IX. The adjacent edges of these ribs'do not meet, thus forming a slot 17, and they are bent upward, as shown at 18, which, with a longitudinal depression in the bottom of the file, forms a space 19, in which the head 15 of the arm 14 fits and works. The arm lei is rigidly secured to the back 9, and the back is provided with a perforated lug 20, through which passes a vertical rod or stem 21, pivoted at 22 to a lever 23, which is itself pivoted at 24 to cars 25, form ed 011 the back, preferably by cutting the back and bending the portions within the cut outwardly, as shown in Fig. IX. On the lower end of the stem or rod 21 is a head or cross-piece 26, which, when the lever is in its upper position, or in the position shown in Fig. IX, is forced down upon the flanges 16, causing the head 15 to be brought up tightly against the under side of the flanges 16. The back is thus held in a vertical position. By

throwing the lever 23 into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. IX the head 26 is raised from the flanges 16 and the back 9 is allowed to fall into an inclined position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. VIII, so that the papers will open outat the top to allow them to be readily examined. Then by moving the back 9 to its vertical position again and throwing the lever into the position shown in Fig. IX the papers will be held snugly inthe file and the back of course can be adjusted in or out to accommodate the bulk of papers. The head 26 has threaded connection with the rod 21, so that it may be adjusted up or down to get the proper friction between the heads 15 and 26 and the flanges 16; also, it

may be adjusted to compensate for any wear of the parts.

the file. the top of the back piece with means connected to it for securing the back piece to the.

bottom of the file is of the greatest importance to a convenient and handy file.

\Ve claim as our invention 1. In a paper-file, the combination of the front piece having a depression forming a rib 13, and a frame secured to the front piece for receiving a label, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A paper-file having flanges on its bottom, a movable back piece, a stationary crosshead secured to the back piece, a movable cross-head secured to the back piece, a lever for operating the movable cross-head, and a rod connecting the lever to the movable crosshead, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Apaper-file havingamovableback piece, means for clamping the back piece to the bottom of the file, and a lever for operating said means, said lever being located at the upper end of the back piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. Apaper-file having amovable back piece, means for clamping the back piece to the bottom of the file, and a lever for operating said means, said lever being so located that its upper end will be near the upper end of the back piece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A paper-file having flanges secured to its bottom and arranged to form a chamber, a cross-head secured to the back of the file and fitting in said chamber, a second crosshead, a vertically-movable rod to which the second cross-head is secured, and a pivoted lever for operating the rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a paper-file, the combination of bent flanges 16, forming a chamber 19, a back 9, a head 15, rigidly secured to the back piece and fitting in said chamber, a head 26, a movable rod 21, to which said head 26 is secured, a lever secured to the back, and ears formed by cutting and bending a portion of the back and to which the lever is pivoted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EDMOND H. BABBITT. LOUIS STOOKSTROM. In presence of E. S. KNIGHT, THos. KNIGHT. 

